Ophthalmic mounting



OPHTHALMI C MOUNT ING Filed March 21, 1951 vi EL I INVENTOR 2 5 BY eazgelz izllzy Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE L.TULLY, OF SOUTHBBIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASBIGNOR TO AMERICAN OP- TICALCOMPANY, OF SOUTHBBIDGE, .MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION OFMASSACHUSETTS OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Application filed larch 21, 1931.Serial No. 524,303.

This invention relates to improvements in connecting or securing meansand has particular reference to improved means for uniting the parts ofan ophthalmic mountmg.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improvedconnection or securing device for uniting the parts of an ophthalmicmounting wherein the said parts may be quickly interchanged or adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forconnecting the lens holding members of an opthalmic mounting wherein thedistance between said members may be quickly and easily adjusted to fitthe facial requirements of the wearer.

Another object is to provide an improved adjustable bridge for anophthalmic mounting and improved means of attaching the said bridge tothe lens holding members of said mounting.

Another object is to provide improved means for securing the attachingmeans against displacement and consequently preventing the connectingmeans from becoming loose or detached from the lens holding membersduring the use of the ophthalmic mounting.

Another object is to provide a connecting or securing device which issimple and efiicient in its nature and operation and which may bequickly and economically manufactured. o

Other objects and-advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsand it will be understood that many changes may be made in the detailsof construction and-arrangement of parts without departing from thespirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. Itherefore do not wish to be limited to the exact details shown anddescribed as the preferred forms only have been shown by way ofillustration.

Referring to the drawings; Fig. I is a front elevation of an opthalmicmounting embodying the invention showing a portion thereof in section; 1

Fig. II is a perspective view of one of the .requirements of differentindividuals.

lens holding members showing a portion of the lens retaining meansbroken away to expose the edge of the lens;

Fig. III is an enlarged fragmentary sec tional view taken on line IIIIIIof Fig. II;

Fig. IV'is a sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. I showing theparts disunited; A

Fig. V is a view similar to Fig. III, showing a modified form of theinvention;

' Fig. VI is a fragmentary view of the interiorof the. lens holdingmember shown in Fig. V showing a face view of the connecting means; 1

Fig. VII is a fragmentary perspective view of another modified form ofthe invention; Fig. VIII is a perspective view of the connecting meansshown in Fig. VII; and

Fig. IX is a fragmentar sectional view of a further modification of t einvention.

With certain types of ophthalmic mountings particularly eye protectorsand goggles it is necessary that the mounting be so formed that thedistance between the lens holding members may be adjusted to fit thefaciIal 11 prior art mountings where attempts have been made toaccomplish this result it has been found diflicult top'roduce aconnection that will hold the bridge member securely in position and yetbe so constructed that the distance between the lens holding membersmaybe easily and quickly adjusted.

It 'is therefore the prime object of my invention to provide a simpleand eflicient connection of the bridge means to the lens holding membersof an ophthalmic mounting wherein the saidbridging means may be easilyand quickly adjustedto the requirements of the wearer and be heldsecurely in the adjusted position during the use of the mounting.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar charactersof reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several viewsthe device to which the invention is shown applied comprises a pair ofeyecup members 1 which are formed with a face contacting edge 2 shapedto the contour of the face and a threaded portion 3 to which a threadedlens retaining ring 4 is attached to secure a protection lens 5 withinthe eyecup.

The eyecup members 1 are connected centrally by a bridge member 6 andare provided with a suitable head band 7 to hold the mounting on thefaceof the wearer.

A perforated shield member 8 is secured over an opening in the side ofthe eyecup 1 to provide the necessary ventilation.

The receding construction is of a commonly rnown goggle or eye protectorand may be varied at will as may seem necessary to obtain the bestresults as the improved connecting or securing device embodying theinvention may be used with many different constructions.

The bridging member 6 shown in Figures I to VII inclusive is flexibleand is formed of a plurality of ball members 9 connected in spacedrelation by a series of link members 10. The bridge. member is coveredby a tubular member 11 which may be formed of a non inflammablesubstance, rubber or other soft protective material.

The connection of the bridge member 6 to the eyecups is formed bypiercing the side Walls of the eyecups to form an opening 12t-herethrough in which the ends of the bridge member 6 are secured. Thesecuring means as shown in Figures I to IV inclusive is shown in Figuresformed of a plate member 13 pivoted at 14 to the interior of the eyecup.The plate member is provided with a slot 15 which straddles a linkmember 10 between the ball members 9 and in this manner securelyattaches the end of the bridge member to the eyecup. When the platemember 13 is in locked position on the link member 10 as shown inFigures II and III and the lens 5-has been secured in the eyecup, theend 16 of the plate 13 opposite the pivot connection 14: engages theunder surface of the lens 5 and is in this manner held againstdisplacement. This prevents the possible loosening and detaching of thebridge member during the use of the mounting.

An up turned portion 17 formed on the end 16 provides a thumb piece bywhich the plate 13 can be easily moved on its pivot.

When it is desired to interchange or adjust the bridge member 6 theretaining ring and lens 5 are removed from the eyecup and the platemember 13 is then moved outwardly on its pivot 14 as shown in Fig. IV.This permits the end of the bridge member to be adjusted or detachedfrom the eyecup.

Both'ends of the bridge member 6 can be removable from the eyecups ifdesired or one end can be permanently attached to one of said eyecups.

A slight modification of the invention is V and VI wherein the bedetached and adjustbridge member can the lens 5. This 1s aced withoutdisturbing complished by pivotally mounting a plate member 18 so that itis free to rotate without engaging the lens 5. In this instance theplate member 18 is provided with a projection 19 which when the platemember is in locked position with the bridge 6 extends into a recess 20in the eyecup and holds the plate member against displacement during theuse of the mounting. The projection 19 is held in the recess 20 by theresiliency of the plate member 18. A lip 21 is formed on the platemember 18 adjacent the projection 19 so that the said projection can belifted out of the recess 20 when it is desired to move the said platemember to interchange or adjust the length of the bridge.

Another modification is shown in Figures VII and VIII wherein a splitwasher member 22 is employed instead of the pivoted plate members 13 and18. When the desired length of bridge is obtained the split washer 22 isforced over the link member 10 between the ball members 9 and therebysecures the end of the bridge member to the eyecup. The washer functionssimilarly to the plate members 13 and 18 but is not'secured to theeyecup.

In Fig. IX there is shown a further modification wherein a chain bridgemember 23 is used instead of the ball and link arrangement referred toabove. In this instance the slot 15 in the plate member 13 straddles oneof the link members 24: adjacent the end of the bridge and the normallyrelated link member 25 at the end of the bridge engages with the side ofthe plate member and locks the said bridge in the eyecup.

The plate 13 may also be formed with a projecting lug member 26 adjacentthe slot 15 which when the chain bridge member 23 is used can beextended within the link member 24 or 25 to lock the bridge member tothe eyecup. With this type of plate member either the ball and linkbridge 6 or chain bridge member 23 can be used and the said chain bridgecan .be attached to the eyecup through the use of the slot 15 orprojecting lug 26 as desired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple,eflicient and economical means of carrying out .the objects of theinvention, particularly in providing extremel v simple and efficientmeans for allowing the bridge member to be easily andquickly adjustedand for looking it in adjusted posi-' tion so that it cannot becomedisengaged while the mounting is in use.

Having described my invention, I claim.

1. In a device of the character described;

an eyecup having an opening on its nasal side, a bridge member having anend extending through the opening in the eyecup and a pivoted lockmember engaging the end of the bridge extending into the eyecup to holdthe bridge end against withdrawal from the opening. a

2. In a device of the character described, an eyecup having an openingon its nasal side, a bridge member having an end extending through theopening in the eyecup, a pivoted lock member engaging the end of thebridge extending into the eyecup to hold the bridge end againstwithdrawal from the opening, and additional lock means to lock thepivoted lock against displacement from engagement with the bridgemember.

3. A bridge connection for an ophthalmic mounting comprisin a lensholding member having an opening t erein, a bridge member having aportion adjacent its end extending into the opening and a slotted platemember engaging the end of the bridge member internally of the lensholding member to secure the said end against withdrawal from theopening.

4., A bridge connection for an ophthalmic mounting comprisingwan eyecupmember having an opening therein, a bridge member having a portionadjacent its end extending into the opening and a plate member pivotallyconnectedto the eyecup member internally thereof and having a slottedportion engaging the bridge member adjacent its end internally of theeyecup to secure the said end a inst withdrawal from the opening.

'5. bridge connection for an ophthalmic mounting comprising a lensholding member having an opening and a groove in the side wall thereof,a bridge member having a portion adjacent its end extending into theopening, a plate member pivotally connected to the lens holding memberinternally thereof and having a slotted portion engaging the bridgemember adjacent its end internally of the lensholding member'to securethe said end against withdrawal from the said opening and a projectionon the plate member adjacent its end opposite the pivot connectionfitting into the groove in the lens holding against movement on itspivot by said lens when the parts are in assembled position.

7. In a device of the character described, a pair of lens holdinmembers, one of which has an opening in 1ts side wall, a flexible bridgemember secured adjacent one of its ends to one of the lens holdingmembers and the said end against withdrawal from the opening.

8. In a device of the ty e described, a pair of eyecups, a bridge mem erconnecting said eyecups and having a series of enlargements thereon, alock member on one of said eyecups having means to engage one of theenlar ements on said brid e and secure the bri ge to the eyecup, saidock member being movable into and out of engagement with said bridgemember to allow t to be adjusted.

9. In a device of the type described, a pair of'eyecups, a chain bridgemember consisting of a series of links connectin said eyecups and a lockmember on one 0 said eyecups having means to engage one of said linksand secure said bridge to the eyecup, said lock member being movableinto and out of engagement with said bridge member to allow said bridgemember to be ad'usted.

10. In a-device of the type descri of eyecups, a bridge memberconnecting said eyecups and having a series of enlargements thereon, apivoted lock member on one of said eyecups having means to engage one ofthe enlargements on said bridge and secure the brid e to the eyecup,said ivoted lock member ein' movable into an out of engagement wit saidbridge member to allow the bridge member to be 'ad'usted.

GEORG L. TULLY.

member to hold the said plate member against movement when the slottedportion thereof is in engagement with the portion adjacent the end ofthe bridge member.

6. A bridge connection for an ophthalmic.

monnting comprising a lens holding member having an opening therein, alens in the lens holding member, means for securing the lens in the lensholding member, a bridge member having a pcrtion adjacent itsend-extending into the opening in the lens holding member and a platemember pivotally connected to the lens holding member internally thereofand having a slotted portion engaging the bridge member adjacent its endinternally of the lens holding member to secure the said end againstwithdrawal from the opening in said lens holding member, said platemember having a portion thereof en a 'ng-the under surface of the lensand emg held d, a pair

